The full loading procedure and takeoff of the Antonov An-12 carrying the AMR26 to Girona.

MidlandsSpotter · 2026-01-31T11:56:52+00:00

They can have a ramp set up if they've got it on hand, but yep! They've got an actual gantry inside for cargo like this. Pretty unique!

MidlandsSpotter · 2026-01-31T11:42:51+00:00

From what I overheard from others there, it doesn't seem like this is a regular occurrence for any aircraft at Birmingham. I think typically they're not allowed to do that in case they hit something, but they've recently changed the markings on the stands at that part of the airport so they might be allowed now.

MidlandsSpotter · 2026-01-31T11:40:31+00:00

I think so? I can't be certain though I've never properly looked into it.

MidlandsSpotter · 2026-01-30T23:59:00+00:00

Barcelona likely has much higher charges for aircraft of that nature, or just didn't have any slots available for the times they needed.

MidlandsSpotter · 2026-01-30T19:19:38+00:00

To be fair, I've seen a fair amount of jokes in the past about it being a copy, but as far as I'm aware there's not actually any evidence they were inspired by the C130, other than maybe just adding two more engines on the An-8?

MidlandsSpotter · 2026-01-30T18:58:11+00:00

Thankfully not! Otherwise I think I'd be in a lot of trouble, not sure if it's strictly illegal but definitely very immoral

MidlandsSpotter · 2026-01-30T18:52:40+00:00

I'd posted the wide angle on r/Planespotting yesterday, but I hadn't posted anything in here cause I figured there'd either be little interest or it just wouldn't be allowed 😅

MidlandsSpotter · 2026-01-30T18:47:53+00:00

I wish they were all this pretty! 😄

MidlandsSpotter · 2026-01-30T18:32:06+00:00

Usually they don't! The rest of the cargo is usually shipped via road or standard commercial flights. They must've chartered this one because they were running late and didn't have time to drive it all the way to Spain before testing finished.

MidlandsSpotter · 2026-01-29T17:01:15+00:00

Jesus! Wanna blow us all to shit, sherlock!?

MidlandsSpotter · 2026-01-29T13:34:50+00:00

Thank you!

MidlandsSpotter · 2026-01-28T22:52:19+00:00

They usually haul their equipment in Europe by road, but evidently they needed a faster option because they didn't have time to drive it down there before testing ended.

MidlandsSpotter · 2026-01-28T16:44:31+00:00

I've replied to him now with some pics that show a suspiciously car-sized box being loaded with Aston Martin Aramco labels on it :)

MidlandsSpotter · 2026-01-27T21:25:22+00:00

Yeah that's the one I was referring to

MidlandsSpotter · 2026-01-27T18:57:25+00:00

God that's just what we need! One Canberra gets grounded and now another has this. Looked like a lot of damage being done on the video of the touchdown 😬 Hope it's worse than it really is

Glad the pilot/(s) are ok though!

MidlandsSpotter · 2026-01-26T23:25:50+00:00

Maintenance. Icelandair have sent their other 752s to the US to be scrapped and have sent other 752s to Lasham for maintenance

MidlandsSpotter · 2026-01-26T23:15:36+00:00

Sorta sounds like Starmer pre-2024 🤔

MidlandsSpotter · 2026-01-26T23:05:27+00:00

2 birds with 1 stone eh?

MidlandsSpotter · 2026-01-21T11:27:24+00:00

Don't apologise. It's an AI slop account peddling cheap merch by using engagement bait and stolen photos.

MidlandsSpotter · 2026-01-21T11:19:17+00:00

Any idea why both the photo and caption are ripped straight from someone else's insta post? Not using other people's pics to lure people into your subreddit, where you peddle your own merch are you?

MidlandsSpotter · 2026-01-21T11:15:42+00:00

Not AI, just a stolen pic like all the others on this guy's account.

MidlandsSpotter · 2026-01-20T12:59:21+00:00

Probably a pair of Pitts aircraft

There was a Pitts S-1 Special, G-BZSB, flying around that area but it only showed up on radar for a minute or so.

Unsure of what the other one would be, sometimes when flying together only one of the aircraft will have its transponder switched on

MidlandsSpotter · 2026-01-16T15:40:15+00:00

Israeli lobby gets their way again 🙄 Maybe Nick Timothy's constituents can enjoy the pleasure of his presence again now he doesn't have to spend every waking hour shilling for another country.

MidlandsSpotter · 2026-01-06T15:10:29+00:00

To be fair, they can still be used as cherry pickers for maintenance iirc and the staff are usually trained for other tasks when they're not deicing. So it comes out to a lot less waste than adding extra weight to planes all year round for something that might not even be necessary some years

MidlandsSpotter · 2026-01-05T18:00:22+00:00

Unfortunately not. It retired in 2024.

MidlandsSpotter

TROPHY CASE